Skin prepping set for surgical procedures

ABSTRACT

A skin prepping set for surgical procedures which includes a prepping solution tray and a plurality of sponges and absorbent towels placed at the center of a sterile field overwrap. The prepping tray and the sponges and towels are spaced from one another when the prepping set is in a fully opened condition. To form a packaged kit, the sterile field overwrap is serially folded to form lips or tabs that permit opening of the package without contamination of the contents and further when so folded into a finished package the towels and sponges are placed on top of the tray with a plurality of layers of the overwrap interposed therebetween such that the closed package occupies a minimum amount of space.

ilite ttes atet [1 1 [111 3,795,369 Link Mar. 5, 1974 SKIN PREPPHNG SET FOR SURGICAL"; 3,650,393 3/1972 Reiss et a] 206/632 R Y PROCEDURES [75] Inventor: Martin Link, North Brunswick, NJ. Primary Examiner wllham [73] Assignee: Johnson & Johnson, New 7 Brunswick, NJ. [57] ABSTRACT Filed, Oct. 1972 A skin prepping set for surgical procedures which includes a prepping solution tray and a plurality of [21] Appl. No.: 299,476 sponges and absorbent towels placed at the center of a sterile field overwrap. The prepping tray and the sponges and towels are spaced from one another when [52] U.S.Cl. 206/223, 803,362,438, the prepping Set is in a fully opened condition. To

7 t ,7 t form a packaged kit, the sterile field overwrap is seri- [5l] lift. Cl Afilb 19/02, B65tl 77/30 n folded to f li or tabs that permit opening of [58] Flew of Search" 206/632 47 46 72; the package without contamination of the contents 128/132 D and further when so folded into a finished package the i towels and sponges are placed on top of the tray with [56] Retell-wees a plurality of layers of the overwrap interposed there- Y UNITED STATES PATENTS between such that the closed package occupies a mini- 3,l37,387 6/1964 Overment 206/632 R mum amount of p ce. 3,249,070 5/1966 Day et al. 3,329,261 7/1967 Serany, Jr. et al. 206/632 R 6 Clam, 13 D'awmg 3,343,534- 9/1967 Keoughan, Jr. et al 128/132 D PATENTEDH 5 74 SHEE'I' 1 [If 3 SKIN PREPIPING SET FOR SURGICAL PROCEDURES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to surgical kits and more particularly is directed to a packaged skin prepping set for surgical procedures which, when opened, provides a completely sterile field from which preoperative patient' prepping procedures can be performed.

In hospital operating rooms during surgical procedures there is usually present one or more sterile nurses whose primary function is to assist the surgeon in those procedures where sterility must be maintained. Many such procedures during any given operation are required, thus placing a premium on the time of the sterile nurse or nurses. It is thus desirable to find ways and means by which many of these procedures can be performed by a nonsterile circulating nurse without contamination of that which is used in the-procedure. One such area is the so-called preoperative patient prepping procedure wherein the operative site of the patient is scrubbed with sterilizing prepping solutions prior to draping of the patient and the initiation of the incision by the surgeon.

Skin prepping sets in the past have been provided which can be opened by a nonsterile nurse but which then require manipulation of the components once opened by the sterile nurse. For example, many prior skin prepping sets included a plurality of components, i.e., trays, compartments, pro-packaged sterile prepping solutions, and the like within the sterile field overwrap. Thus, once the overwrap has been opened by the nonsterile nurse, exposing the sterile components within the overwrap, the components being sterile must be manipulated by the sterile nurse to prevent contamination thereof.

To overcome'some of these objections it has been proposed to provide forceps within the interior of the 'skin prepping set to permit manipulation of the tray components by the nonsterile nurse. This, however, in-

' creases the chance of contamination of the tray or the tray components by the nonsterile nurse in that there is a good chance that contamination of the tray components and the overwrap occurs when the nonsterile nurse picks up the forceps from the sterile field. In order to insure maximum sterility, the nonsterile nurse should not touch anything on or within the sterile field.

By the present invention I have provided a compact packaged skin prepping set for preoperative skin preparation of patients scheduled for surgical procedures which can be completely set up, ready for use, by a nonsterile nurse without requiring any of the set-up procedures to be carried out by the operating room sterile nurse.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a skin prepping set for surgical procedures which in cludes a sterile field overwrap of flexible sheet material that envelopes a sterile tray having a plurality of depressions for receiving sterile surgical prepping solutions as well as a plurality of sterile absorbentsponges and towels. The tray and the sponges and towels are spaced from one another within the borders of the overwrap when the prepping set is in a fully opened condition and the sponges and towels overlie the tray BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and further advantages and features of the present invention will be even more apparent by reference to the following detailed description thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the fully opened skin prepping set of the present invention and indicates the lines upon which the sterile field overwrap is first folded in the steps'to enclose the skin prepping set in a closed package;

FIG. 2 shows the skin prepping set of FIG. 1 subsequent to the first folding steps of the overwrap;

FIG. 3 illustrates the skin prepping set of FIG. 1 illustrating the initiation of the second folding steps of the sterile field overwrap;

FIG. 4 illustrates the skin prepping set of FIG. 1 subsequent to completion of the second folding steps illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates the skin prepping set as it is enclosed in the sterile field overwrap prior to rotating the enclosed tray into a position overlying the enclosed sponges and towels;

FIG. 6 illustrates the rotation of the tray into a position over the towels within the sterile field overwrap;

FIG. 7 illustrates the sterile skin prepping set as it appears subsequent to the rotation step-illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 8 illustrates the re-rotation or turning over of the skin prepping set subsequent to its appearance in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 illustrates the final folding steps of the sterile field overwrap which completely enclose the skin prepping set and provide a tab opening lip at the top of the enclosed set; and,

FIGS. 10 through 13 illustrate the sequential steps for opening of the sterile field overwrap to place the skin prepping set into an open condition ready for use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the skin prepping set of the present invention-includes a tray 10 having a pair of cup-like depressions 12 and 14 separated by a central rectangular depression 16. Also included in the skin scrub set are a plurality of surgical sponges l8 and absorbent towels 20. To enclose the tray 10 and the sponges 18 and towels 20 into a sterile package there is provided an overwrap 22 of flexible sheet material. The flexible sheet material is preferably a laminate of a light basis weight creped tissue and a polyethylene or polypropylene film. The overwrap 22 in its fully opened condition presents the tissue side of the laminate as the inner or upper surface 24 of the overwrap with the polyethylene film side presenting the outer or lower surface 26 of the overwrap.

To enclose the tray 10 and the sponges l8 and the towels 20 within the overwrap 22, they are positioned centrally on the inner surface of the overwrap 22 with the sponges 18 and towels 20 stacked and spaced from the tray 10 as shown in FIG. 1. The overwrap 22 is then first folded upwardly along fold line a. to overlie the top of the tray 10 and then folded backwardly and forwardly along fold lines b. and c., respectively, to form a double-layered lip 28 (FIG. 2) at what will be the Y trailing edge of the overwrap 22 in the finished pack age.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the multi-layered portion of the overwrap overlying the tray 10 is tucked inwardly at the end edges thereof and the lateral portions of the overwrap 22 existent beyond the end edges of the tray and of the stack of sponges l8 and towels 20 is folded upwardly along fold lines d. and e. to overlie the top surface of the multi-layered portion of the overwrap overlying the tray and the top surface of the stack of sponges l8 and towels 20. The portion of the overwrap 22 existent beyond the side edge of the tray 10 is tucked in at the side edge of the tray (FIG. 5) and then the portion of the overwrap 22 encasing the tray is lifted upwardly to rotate the encased tray 10 in the manner of closing a book into a position overlying the overwrap encased sponges l8 and towels (FIGS. 6 and 7). The now packaged skin prepping set is then completely turned over so that the encased sponges l8 and towels 20 overlie the top surface of the encased tray 10 (FIG. 8).

To complete the compact packaging of the skin prepping set, the portion of the overwrap 22 extending beyond the lateral edges of the stacked tray and sponges and towels is first folded upwardly along fold linef. and thence backwardly along fold line g. (FIG. 8) to form a double-layered lip 30 at what is now the leading edge of the overwrap 22. The skin prepping set is now completely packaged into a compact unit which can be readily placed into a sterility maintaining package and then sterilized by any well-known method such as ethylene oxide treatment, steam sterilization or irradiation.

Following sterilization, the packaged skin prepping set is ready for use in an operating room and can readily be opened and set up by a nonsterile nurse without the assistance ofa sterile nurse. The inner or upper surface 24 of the sterile field overwrap 22 remains sterile when the packaged skin prepping set is completely opened by a nonsterile nurse thus presenting a sterile field from which the sterile nurse may use the skin prepping set to apply sterile solutions to the skin of the patient at the site of the operative incision.

The opening of the skin prepping set package is illustrated in FIGS. 10 through 13 and shows that the pack age, placed on a suitable stand or table, is first grasped at the double-layered lip 30 at the leading edge of the overwrap 22 by the nurse standing rearwardly of the package behind the double-layered lip 30 (FIG. 10). This initial grasping of the overwrap 22 limits contact of the nonsterile nurse to the outer surface 26 of the.

overwrap 22. The overwrap 22 is then lifted by the nonsterile nurse upwardly and forwardly which also lifts the encased sponges l8 and towels 20 away from the top surface of the encased tray 10 to a position spaced forwardly thereof, i.e.. with the tray 10 positioned between the stacked sponges l8 and towels 20 and the nonsterile nurse (FIG. 11). The lip 30 at the leading edge of the overwrap 22 can then be lifted forwardly by grasping the undersurface of the folded over portion of the overwrap 22, which surface is the outer surface of the overwrap 22 thus preventing any contamination of the interior surface of the overwrap 22 by the nonsterile nurse.

The next step is setting up the skin prepping set is illustrated in FIG. 12 where the multi-layered portion of the overwrap 22 which overlies the tray is grasped on each side of the overlap 32 and each portion of the overwrap 22 overlying the top surface of the tray 10 and the stack of sponges 18 and towels 20 is lifted upwardly and outwardly with the hands of the nonsterile nurse still being in contact only with the outer surface 26 of the overwrap 22. I

Thus opened to the condition illustrated in FIG. 13, the double-layered lip 28 at the trailing edge of the overwrap 22 lies exposed over the top surface of .the tray 10. This double-edged lip 28 is then grasped by the nonsterile nurse while still contacting only the outer surface 26 of the overwrap 22 to lift the trailing edge thereofin a direction towards the nonsterile nurse. This maneuver also lifts that portion of the folded overwrap 22 overlying the top surface of the tray 10 away therefrom leaving the sterile tray 10, the sterile sponges l8 and towels 20, and the sterile inner or upper surface 24 of the overwrap 22 exposed without any portion thereof having been contaminated by the nonsterile nurse. The skin prepping set then appears as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Once opened in the above-described manner, the nonsterile nurse next pours into the depressions 12, 14 and 16 of the tray 10 the various desired sterile prepping solutions from containers positioned nearby. The pouring of the sterile prepping solutions is accomplished without the nonsterile nurse or the containers from which the solutions are poured coming into contact with either the tray 10 or the upper sterile surface 24 of the sterile field overwrap 22. Being thus set up without contamination by a nonsterile nurse. the prepping set is now ready for manipulation by the sterile nurse who, using the sterile sponges and towels, picks up the sterile prepping solutions from the depressions in the tray and wipes them onto the surface of the skin of the patient at the site of the imminent incision.

Thus from the foregoing it is seen that a surgical skin prepping set is provided which can be completely set up ready for use by a nonsterile nurse while maintaining the sterility of the exposed surface of the overwrap and the contents within the overwrap thereby reducing substantially the amount of valuable time required of the sterile nurse during the actual skin prepping of the patient prior to the surgical procedure.

While I have described the present invention with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is understood that many changes, variations and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following appended claims.

I claim:

1. A skin prepping set for surgical procedures comprising:

A. A sterile field overwrap of flexible sheet material; B. A sterile tray having a plurality of depressions for receiving sterile surgical prepping solutions; and C. A plurality of sterile absorbent sponges and towels; 1. said tray and said sponges and towels being spaced from one another within the borders of said overwrap when said prepping set is in a fully opened condition; y

2. said sponges and towels overlying said tray with a plurality of layers of said overwrap interposed therebetween when said prepping set is in a fully closed condition; and

3. said sterile field overwrap being folded in a man ner to completely enclose said sterile tray and said sterile sponges and towels within the inner sterile surface of said overwrap and further in a manner to permit opening of the overwrap by a nonsterile nurse without contaminating either the inner sterile surface of said overwrap or said sterile tray and said sterile sponges and towels.

2. A skin prepping setaccording to claim 1 wherein said sterile tray and a stack of said sterile sponges and towels are spaced from one another and positioned substantially centrally of said sterile field overwrap when said set is in a fully opened condition and said preppingset is enclosed into a compact package within said overwrap by:

A. A first transverse fold forwardly of said overwrap to position a portion thereof over the top surface of said tray; I

. B. A second and third transverse fold backwardly and forwardly; respectively, of said overwrap to form a double-layered lip at the trailing edge thereof and overlying the top of said tray;

C. A pair of longitudinal folds upwardly of the portions of said overwrap existent laterally of the ends of said tray and said stack of sponges and towels to overlap the lateral edges of said overwrap over the top surface of said tray and said stack of sponges and towels;

D. A fourth transverse fold of said overwrap intermittent said tray and said stack of sponges and towels to place the latter on top of the former in the manner of closing a book; and

E. A fifth and sixth transverse fold backwardly and forwardly, respectively, of said overwrap to form a double-layered lip at the leading edge thereof and overlying the top surface of said enclosed tray and said stack of sponges and towels.

3. A skin prepping set according to claim 1 wherein said flexible sheet material is a laminate of light basis weight tissue and polyethylene film.

4. A skin prepping set according to claim 1 wherein said flexible sheet material is a laminate of light basis weight tissue and polypropylene film.

5. A skin prepping set according to claim 3 wherein said light basis weight tis'sue layer is the inner surface of said sterile field overwrap and said polyethylene film is the outer surface thereof.

6. A skin prepping set according to claim 4 wherein said light basis weight tissue layer is the inner surface of said sterile field overwrap and said polypropylene film is the outer surface thereof. 

1. A skin prepping set for surgical procedures comprising: A. A sterile field overwrap of flexible sheet material; B. A sterile tray having a plurality of depressions for receiving sterile surgical prepping solutions; and C. A plurality of sterile absorbent sponges and towels;
 1. said tray and said sponges and towels being spaced from one another within the borders of said overwrap when said prepping set is in a fully opened condition;
 2. said sponges and towels overlying said tray with a plurality of layers of said overwrap interposed therebetween when said prepping set is in a fully closed condition; and
 3. said sterile field overwrap being folded in a manner to completely enclose said sterile tray and said sterile sponges and towels within the inner sterile surface of said overwrap and further in a manner to permit opening of the overwrap by a nonsterile nurse without contaminating either the inner sterile surface of said overwrap or said sterile tray and said sterile sponges and towels.
 2. said sponges and towels overlying said tray with a plurality of layers of said overwrap interposed therebetween when said prepping set is in a fully closed condition; and
 2. A skin prepping set according to claim 1 wherein said sterile tray and a stack of said sterile sponges and towels are spaced from one another and positioned substantially centrally of said sterile field overwrap when said set is in a fully opened condition and said prepping set is enclosed into a compact package within said overwrap by: A. A first transverse fold forwardly of said overwrap to position a portion thereof over the top surface of said tray; B. A second and third transverse fold backwardly and forwardly, respectively, of said overwrap to form a double-layered lip at the trailing edge thereof and overlying the top of said tray; C. A pair of longitudinal folds upwardly of the portions of said overwrap existent laterally of the ends of said tray and said stack of sponges and towels to overlap the lateral edges of said overwrap over the top surface of said tray and said stack of sponges and towels; D. A fourth transverse fold of said overwrap intermittent said tray and said stack of sponges and towels to place the latter on top of the former in the manner of closing a book; and E. A fifth and sixth transverse fold backwardly and forwardly, respectively, of said overwrap to form a double-layered lip at the leading edge thereof and overlying the top surface of said enclosed tray and said stack of sponges and towels.
 3. A skin prepping set according to claim 1 wherein said flexible sheet material is a laminate of light basis weight tissue and polyethylene film.
 3. said sterile field overwrap being folded in a manner to completely enclose said sterile tray and said sterile sponges and towels within the inner sterile surface of said overwrap and further in a manner to permit opening of the overwrap by a nonsterile nurse without contaminating either the inner sterile surface of said overwrap or said sterile tray and said sterile sponges and towels.
 4. A skin prepping set according to claim 1 wherein said flexible sheet material is a laminate of light basis weight tissue and polypropylene film.
 5. A skin prepping set according to claim 3 wherein said light basis weight tissue layer is the inner surface of said sterile field overwrap and said polyethylene film is the outer surface thereof.
 6. A skin prepping set according to claim 4 wherein said light basis weight tissue layer is the inner surface of said sterile field overwrap and said polypropylene film is the outer surface thereof. 